WHAT IS CUR8ABLE.com about?

That's a great question I'm glad you asked. I'm Stephanie, and I'm a congenital amputee missing digits on my right hand and feet. For 25 years I've researched clothing and retail trends for people with disabilities. What started as a Miss America preliminary pageant platform, grew into a hobby, and now two-decades later has morphed into my life's work. Although there are many adaptive designers around the world and have been since at least the 1930's. There are fewer than 10 people in the world with my personal background and experience working exclusively as stylists for people with disabilities. And I have to be honest I don't know the other nine, but I can't assume I'm the only one. As a result of this gap in the styling industry, for years I've wanted a place to go online that was all about dressing with disabilities. Since I couldn't find one, I created (Cure-eight-uh-bul) Cur8able.com, a fashion lifestyle blog all about dressing with disabilities out loud and in style!

if there are adaptive designers around the world why is your work necessary?

Another amazing question, you are on point! Although there are many adaptive designers, very few design functional clothing that is also fashionable. My Disability Fashion Styling System™ (DFSS) acts as a bridge between where the fashion industry is and where it's going. I believe that someday we'll have more fashionable adaptive clothing, but until then, I'll continue to use my DFSS™ to empower people with disabilities enjoy dressing and shopping, and to do both with dignity and self reliance.

WHAT IS DISABILITY FASHION STYLING?

Disability Fashion Styling™ is a term I coined in 2004 after creating my Disability Fashion Styling System™. It is the art and science of personal shopping and fashion styling for people living with disabilities.

DO YOU DESIGN CLOTHING?

As a social entrepreneur specializing in dressing with disabilities I provide design and retail consultation. Using my Disability Fashion Styling System™, I work with fashion brands and retailers that are interested in fashion customers with disabilties.

What is social entrepreneurship?

The dictionary on Google defines social entrepreneurship as "a person who establishes an enterprise with the aim of solving social problems or effecting social change." I am a social entrepreneur specializing in dressing with disabilities.

WHAT ARE ADAPTIVE and universal BRANDS?

Well, adaptive brands are designed to adapt to one or more specific disabilities. For example clothing designed for people with seated body types are adapted for sitting as oppose to standing. While universal brands are designed with broad functionality so that people with and without disabilities can wear the clothing beautifully and safely.

isn't this a niche market?

Hmmmm, lets see, nope. According to the World Health Organization on Disability 1 in 5 people in the world live with a disability and people with disabilities, our families, and friends have a combined disposable income of 1 trillion dollars. I don't know about you, but that's not niche to me, especially when you consider the fact that anyone can become a person with a disability at any time.

WHAT IS A CUR8TOR?

Another great question, you're on a roll! Well, a Cur8tor is the way I describe the Cur8able social media contributors. As a disability fashion stylist I meet a lot of interesting influencers so I invited a few of them to share their love of fashion and beauty, on Cur8able's Instagram, Facebook, and You Tube. Our team includes an international fashion industry branding consultant, a disability thought leader, a disability advocate, an actress, You Tube content creator, media host, nail tech, a body-positive model and an award winning TV producer/model. You can check out their personal pages to learn more.